BULBINE ANNUA SEEDS - INDIGENOUS SUCCULENT - WORLDWIDE IN SOUTH AFRICA

The genus Bulbine is placed in the Asphodelaceae family and comprises more or less 73 species occurring in Africa and Australia. In southern Africa you will find 67 species, of which 62 are indigenous to South Africa, whereas only six species are found in Australia. Of the southern African species only five extend into tropical Africa. The genus is consequently considered to be a southern African entity. The genus is characterized by water-wise succulent plants with lax or compound racemes (flowers borne on stalks along an unbranched axis, lower ones opening first) of mostly yellow (very rarely white, orange or pink) flowers with bearded stamens. It is closely related to Bulbinella but has flowers that are "bearded" with hairy stamens. Many Bulbine species have medicinal uses too. Bulbine annua commonly known as Annual Bulbine has fleshy succulent quill-like leaves that are 15-40 cm long. It has wiry roots and can be found growing naturally in sandy soils along the coast in the south-western Cape. During spring and summer it produces dense racemes of yellow flowers on long pedicels. Sow these seeds during autumn.